After the summer fire season in Canada had ended last year, I had gone to Australia with a crew for a month. When I’d gotten back to Canada, the first thing I’d done was go to Jasper. Thesecond thing I’d done was call the commander from my last job, Evan, and inquire about a crew boss job. Something that would have me doing what I loved, but with a more solid home base.
Jasper’s cabin became my unofficial home base over the last year and a half.
Then my official one.
It took time, but our connection became love, and love became a commitment to forever. Now I had a connection deeper than I ever dared hope for and a tropical vacation as the icing on top.
I collected my ticket and stepped past the counter, turning to wait for him. I watched the muscles of his arm move under his tattoos as he picked up his suitcase and came to join me. It was like every time I saw him he’d gotten sexier and I couldn’t wait to be alone. “What’s that look for?” he asked.
“What look?”
“Well, you stared at me with heat in your eyes the first time we were in an airport together. Last time it was because you wanted to kill me, this time it looks like something else.” He pumped his eyebrows.
My cheeks heated and I leaned into his chest. “I might be a little eager to get to the fun part of our vacation.”
A smile spread across his lips. “We’ve had sex in some strange places before, think we can manage in the bathroom of the airplane?”
I swatted his chest. “Not a chance. I don’t want to risk getting kicked off the plane. But as soon as we get to our hotel we are christening that bed.”
He groaned. “You can’t get me hard right before we go through a full-body scanner.”
I laughed. “Looks like I just did.” I turned, not so accidentally grazing my ass over his crotch, and headed for the security line.
After an uneventful flight where we didnothave sex in the bathroom, we arrived in Maui. The sun was just setting. It was still beautifully warm, and the air smelled like plumeria flowers.
The airport wasn’t enclosed like it was back home. They didn’t have to worry about snow here. Birds flew through the space and we gawked at all of it.
“This is amazing,” I said, falling in love with the place before we even left the airport.
“It’s going to be the best trip ever.”
When we arrived at the hotel everything was just as breathtaking. Fish ponds, flowers, the ocean in the background.
“Checking in, reservation name is Jasper McLean, honeymoon suite.”
I was looking around the lobby of the hotel when I heard what Jasper said. I waited until we had our keys and were on the way to the elevator before asking.
“The honeymoon suite?” I asked him, raising an eyebrow.
He shrugged. “This is our first vacation. I thought we should make it special.”
The elevator stopped and we walked a short way down the hall to our room. Once the door was open I dropped my bag and took in the space. It was exactly the way I’d pictured it. Crisp white linens, paintings of waterfalls and flowers on the walls.
I wrapped my arms around Jasper’s waist. “Even though this isn’t really our honeymoon, I’m glad you got this room. It is beautiful.”
He brought his arms around my waist too and pulled me close. “Well, we haven’t done a single thing the way we were supposed to. Why stop now.” He paused. “Besides, we could get married here on the beach, then it really would be our honeymoon.”
I pulled back enough to look him in the eye. “You can’t just wander onto thebeach and get legally married.”
He slid his palms from my waist and took my hands in his. “Legally no, but I have a ring in my pocket and if you want to wear it, we can stand in front of the ocean and make each other a promise. That’s all a marriage needs. Two willing people and a promise. The rest is just government forms and tax stuff.”
I laughed. “You’re crazy.”
“For you, I’m crazy for you.” The sincerity in his dark eyes almost knocked me backward. “So, what do you say?”
There was only one answer that was honest.
“Of course, let’s do it. We made a promise we both intended to keep that day in my tent by a wildfire, so here in this beautiful place we can make another one.”
